The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently classified pertussis (whooping cough) as an epidemic after a seven-fold increase in cases from 2009 to 2010 and confirming eight deaths this year. In most of the fatal cases pertussis was misdiagnosed during initial visits to outpatient clinics. County health officials are strongly recommending that individuals over the age of seven take their Tdap booster to protect against the disease.
We now have more unprotected children and adults in America then any time since the vaccination has been available. There was a time when pertussis infections did not spread to those not immunized because so many others in the community were immunized that the infection did not get a chance to spread. This is not longer the case. Health care providers now worry that deaths from Pertussis will increase, but not enough to give the average parent enough fear to see that protection from Pertussis out weighs the risk of weeks of painful and scary difficulty breathing with spasms of coughing and possible death.
Before the vaccine, everyone knew that Pertussis infection was to be dreaded. Most deaths were in children, but adults could experience weeks to months of these prolonged coughing spasms with enough difficulty getting air to lead to fainting and enough coughing to break ribs. Watching a child experience this, even if the child survives it is terrible. I would not wish to be the parent who has to both watch/worry and know that he/she could have prevented such a thing.
Folks worry about the risk of disability from the vaccine. Unfortunately, we can not isolate the effects of this vaccine from the other factors that could lead to behavior trouble or autism. I understand that science has not proven a link between the Pertussis vaccine and Autism. I understand that parents worry that the lack of proof is not a lack of problem. Here's what we are not getting told by those against the vaccine: PERTUSSIS INFECTION is KNOWN to lead to ENCEPHALOPATHY (BRAIN DAMAGE.) I have seen this with my own eyes. A child only 4 months old who will never be the same - may never be able to succeed in school or behave as a "neurotypical" child. There is risk to not acting.
We can prevent brain damage and suffering by having those in the family and community get protected through vaccination. If you are concerned about the effects of vaccination on your children under 18 months, then I encourage you to ensure that the children and adults over 18 months in the family have the protection so that they do not spread it to the younger children. (Hard to agree with that!)
There are many opportunities to acquire protection from pertussis for both adults and children. One such is at UC Irvine Healthcare. They state they ares dedicated to protecting the well-being of the community, which is why they are partnering with the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) to offer FREE vaccinations the general public. The clinics will be held every Wednesday and Saturday through the end of September.
Please notify your friends, family members, day care providers, teachers, health care workers, and others who have contact with the public and esp with children or adults with health issues that vaccinations will be available at the UC Irvine Neuropsychiatric Center's south patio on Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you have questions about the event, please contact Epidemiology & Infection Prevention at 714.456.5221.
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